State Visit Aims To Strengthen Economic, Defence Ties

Prince Revalia of the Principality of Castonia is on a three-day official visit to the Kingdom of Legonia. 

Prince Revalia will have an audience with King Arius, and also meet Legonia's Prime Minister and defence officials. He will also visit the NARTO HQ in Legotown.

Castonia is a small landlocked kingdom located beside Malatia, Brikvania, Suva and Equanter. It was formerly a part of Malatia, before it was allow to secede by then Malatian leader Field Marshal Nutyubrick.

The Castonian economy relies heavily on exports to Malatia. 90% of its farm produce are sold to Malatian middlemen, and some 2,000 Castonian work in the Malatian construction industry. 

The Principality does not have an army. It has a small security unit, the Castonian Royal Guards (CRG), which is about 800 strong. The CRG's main duty is to protect the Castonian Royal Family, and to perform police and custom duties.

There have been reports that Malatia has occupied some parts of Castonian territories. Although the Castonian government had denied these reports, it has sent some 100 CRG officers armed with rifles to the border area.

The state visit to Legonia signals a foreign policy shift of Castonia. Prince Revalia will attempt to draw Legonian investments into his small kingdom. Importantly, he will seek Legonia's assistance to build the CRG defence capabilities.

Currently, the CRGs are equipped with old antique weapons, such as the colonial-era Mark-v5 rifles. They do not have air defence and anti-tank capabilities.